Louisiana Man Fined Almost $2,000 for Selling Fried Speckled Trout Plates

SLIDELL, La. - For many people in Louisiana, few fish are as iconic as the speckled trout. Whether you're fishing the coast near Grand Isle, or heading out before sunrise in Terrebonne Parish, speckled trout are a favorite across the state.

Louisiana wildlife agents recently cited a 22-year-old Slidell resident after an investigation revealed he was allegedly selling fried speckled trout plates from his home using fish he had caught himself.

Wildlife Agents Investigate Facebook Fish Plate Sales

The case is drawing attention because many people may not realize Louisiana's strict laws regarding the sale of recreationally caught fish.

According to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF), agents received a complaint about someone selling fried fish plates from a home in Slidell, Louisiana. Investigators began looking into it and discovered Facebook posts advertising fish plates for $15 each.

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Authorities say the fish being served were speckled trout that had been caught in Lake Pontchartrain about two weeks earlier. During the investigation, the suspect, Markeegan J. Gray, 22, allegedly admitted to catching the fish himself before offering the fried speckled trout plates for sale.

Fishing

More Than 100 Speckled Trout Fillets Seized

According to theadvocate.com, the investigation led to the seizure of 104 speckled trout fillets. Rather than allowing the fish to go to waste, officials donated the fillets to a local charity.

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Why Selling Recreationally Caught Fish Is Illegal In Louisiana

Anyone who wants to legally sell seafood in Louisiana must have the appropriate commercial licenses and permits. Recreational fishing licenses do not authorize the sale of fish or seafood.

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The Penalties Can Be Expensive

According to LDWF, selling fish caught recreationally can result in fines ranging from $400 to $950 and up to 120 days in jail. In this case, officials say Gray also faces $1,625 in civil restitution related to the illegally sold speckled trout.

Even a neighborhood fish fry can land someone in legal trouble if the seafood being served is sold without the proper commercial licenses.

Catching speckled trout for dinner is legal. Selling those fish plates afterward could be a costly mistake.

Read more at theadvocate.com.